Articles tagged with Laboratory Equipment
Kansas State University researchers are developing wearable medical sensors to monitor astronauts' vital data, such as breathing rate or muscle activity. The team is also creating a specialized wireless network for the biosensors to communicate with each other and a space station.
The Total solar irradiance Calibration Transfer Experiment (TCTE) was launched by NASA using a combination of enthusiasm, spare parts, and resources. The instrument was assembled in just five months to fill a gap in the data record after an aging satellite's battery life expired.
A team of Stanford neuroscientists and engineers found that a localized region of the prefrontal cortex converges color and motion signals to make two snap judgments: which sensory input is most relevant, and what action to take. This discovery confounds conventional wisdom on decision-making processes.
Researchers have created a cocktail boat that uses the Marangoni effect to move through an alcoholic drink, propelled by a difference in surface tension. A floral pipette resembling an upside-down flower captures and closes around a drop of liquid, serving as a palate cleanser.
Researchers found that modifying electronic order set lists can significantly alter both the number and quality of lab tests ordered by clinicians. Including default selections increased the quality of lab tests, but also added costs.
A new international collaboration aims to advance commercial opportunities in next-generation electronic devices by developing more accurate measurements of strain at the nano-scale. The Nanostrain project seeks to drive innovation in areas such as microelectronics, ICT, and sensors industries.
Researchers have developed nanotube-based sensors that can monitor nitric oxide levels in living animals for more than a year. The sensors, made of carbon nanotubes, can be implanted under the skin and used to monitor inflammation, potentially leading to new tools for cancer research and diabetes management.
Michael M. Yartsev's research using bats to study neural coding mechanisms underlying three-dimensional spatial memory and navigation has provided novel insights into the mammalian brain. His award-winning essay highlights a discovery that place cells in bats help navigate 3D space, differing from previously identified processes in rats.
Gimball's spherical shape and gyroscopic stabilization system enable it to absorb shocks and maintain its course despite numerous collisions. The robot's technology simplicity allows it to operate in challenging terrain, such as forest areas, without the need for complex obstacle avoidance systems.
A new, inexpensive paper-based device has been developed to detect disease markers in patients' blood, offering a potential solution for medical testing in remote regions. The device uses simple materials and no electronics, allowing it to be easily operated by users with limited resources.
A NASA sounding rocket launch will support calibration of the EUV Variability Experiment (EVE) aboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) satellite. The EVE instrument measures total extreme ultraviolet irradiance, and this under-flight calibration is crucial for validating long-term variations in solar radiation.
A four-year NIH grant will support the development of a portable sensor to measure metal levels in humans. The sensor combines lab-on-a-chip sensing with microfluidics to provide fast and accurate results, reducing wait times for healthcare providers and scientists.
Researchers developed Lumitrack, a motion tracking technology that uses projectors and sensors to track movements with sub-millimeter accuracy. The system achieves near real-time response and low latency, making it suitable for gaming and other applications.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new concept for a microscope that uses neutrons to create high-resolution images, enabling the probing of internal structures in metal objects and biological materials. The device could improve existing neutron imaging systems by a factor of 50, allowing for sharper images and smaller instruments.
The Curiosity rover's Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite found 2% water in Martian surface soil, indicating a significant resource for the planet. The analysis also revealed perchlorate and chlorate compounds, suggesting they could be distributed globally.
A new technology developed by Brown University researchers simplifies biomolecule separation using microfluidics and magnets, increasing accuracy and sensitivity in disease detection. The technique has great applicability for point-of-care platforms and specific applications include testing for HIV and influenza.
Researchers have developed a new technique called haptic optical tweezers, enabling scientists to 'feel' the microscopic structures under the lens. This technology allows users to explore the microworld by sensing and exerting piconewton-scale forces with trapped microspheres.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield have developed a new method for sourcing obsidian artefacts that takes only 10 seconds, dozens of times faster than current methods. The handheld instrument uses portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) and enables archaeologists to identify origins in the field.
A new camera system, TextureCam, allows future Mars rovers to prioritize their scientific objectives and explore more distant worlds. The system uses machine learning algorithms to recognize rocks, sand, and sky in photos, enabling autonomous decision-making and increased autonomy.
A $6 million CU Boulder instrument will study lunar dust behavior, helping answer why astronauts saw a pre-sunrise glow on the moon. The LADEE mission, launched on Sept. 6, will orbit the moon for a month to collect data and answer questions about lunar dust transport.
A study found that Droplet Digital PCR can accurately quantify and determine the size distribution of target DNA in a single reaction well, avoiding drawbacks of other methods. This method offers precise quantification and detailed size distribution analysis, enabling efficient library preparation for next-generation sequencing.
Engineers at UC Berkeley created the first user-interactive sensor network on flexible plastic, responding to touch with instant light emission. The new e-skin technology has potential applications in robots, wallpapers, dashboard displays, and health monitors.
A new low-cost, high-resolution desktop nanofabrication tool enables the rapid production of high-quality materials and devices at the nanoscale. The tool produces working devices and structures in a matter of hours, making it a game-changer for fields like gene chip development and electronic circuit creation.
Researchers at Disney Research have created software packages that can produce mechanical and actuated deformable characters, expanding creative choices for designers. The systems use rapid manufacturing methods like 3D printing to fabricate the physical characters.
Scientists conducted a simulated Mars expedition in the Atacama Desert to test instruments for the 2020 mission. The dry run aimed to identify potential issues and improve performance, ensuring the success of future missions.
Researchers developed MACH software to help individuals improve their interpersonal skills through simulated conversations. The system uses facial and speech analysis to provide objective feedback, leading to statistically significant improvements in performance and perceived competence.
Researchers have developed hand-held instruments powered by scavenged energy to analyze water quality and bridge safety in the field. The devices use sophisticated photonics systems to generate spectral signatures for identification, with potential applications including wearable biomedical monitors and tracking devices.
The new IPOS sensor combines camera and computer vision technologies to detect human presence, illuminance levels, and other variables with high accuracy. It can control lighting and ventilation in real-time, providing more efficient energy savings and flexibility in office spaces.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a sensor technology that can detect and monitor diabetes through breath analysis alone. The sensor uses a combination of titanium dioxide and carbon nanotubes to measure acetone vapors in breath, offering a potential alternative to current blood glucose monitoring methods.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory honored 165 staff for their intellectual property creations, including Inventor of the Year Jun Liu for his battery materials work. Liu's innovations have potential to create IP, with four U.S. patents and 300 peer-reviewed journal articles to his name.
Sandia National Laboratories has developed the Capability Portfolio Analysis Tool (CPAT) to help the US Army analyze complex decisions for modernizing combat vehicles. The tool combines optimization, simulation, and modeling to balance goals and budget constraints, providing a more efficient decision-making process.
Engineers have fine-tuned the sensitivity of nano-chemical sensor made from insulating base coated with a graphene sheet to detect trace gas molecules. The study's findings open up new possibilities for modulation and control of chemical sensitivity without compromising graphene's intrinsic properties.
R. Graham Cooks receives the Dreyfus Prize for his groundbreaking work on mass spectrometry instrumentation, enabling remote deployment of analytical instruments and transforming fields like pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. This achievement showcases Cooks' innovative spirit and impact on modern science.
New York City tests suggest using repeaters to improve wireless emergency safety equipment in underground structures and high-rise buildings. The findings support NIST's next round of test methods for reliable voice radio and emergency beacon operations.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured images of Cyclone Imelda on April 11, revealing a well-developed storm with tightly-curved bands of thunderstorms. The storm turned to the south due to wind shear, with powerful thunderstorms dropping heavy rainfall and having cloud top temperatures colder than -63 Fahrenheit.
A team of researchers has developed a verification method to detect software bugs in surgical robots, ensuring their safety and effectiveness. The method, based on theorem-proving techniques, identified a critical flaw in the control algorithm for a robot assisting skull-base surgery, allowing the development of a new safe algorithm.
Researchers found that speaking tonal languages improves how the brain hears music, with Cantonese speakers showing similar performance to musicians on auditory measures. The study suggests that language experience can have bi-directional benefits for learning music.
A Michigan Technological University lab has introduced a library of open-source, 3-D-printable optics components that significantly reduce costs. The study found cost reductions of over 97%, enabling a broader audience to participate in optical experimentation.
Developed for DTRA, EMAPS creates annotated physical maps of areas without GPS coverage, capturing 360-degree photos and sensor readings using lasers and sensors. The system improves upon algorithms for robots and includes human movement allowance, detecting environmental threats and associating critical data with map locations.
Researchers at Dartmouth College have created a breakthrough device that can immediately detect secondhand tobacco smoke and even third-hand smoke. The sensor is small, light, and can be used in various settings to reduce the risk of health effects associated with environmental tobacco smoke.
Postdoctoral researcher Nina Lanza discovered a consistent chemical signature in Martian rocks sampled by the Curiosity rover's ChemCam instrument during its first 90 days on Mars. The signature appears after five laser blasts, leading to theories about dust or geological coatings on the planet's surface.
Assistant Professor Hyeok Choi's research aims to develop a sensor system that can detect biological toxins wirelessly, providing real-time data for early warning systems. The system will be deployed in areas with high concentrations of harmful algal blooms, enabling water providers to take action.
The Particles and Fields Package has been integrated onto the MAVEN spacecraft, which will study the solar wind and ionosphere of Mars. The package includes six science instruments that can process up to one million events per second, measuring properties such as solar ultraviolet flux and energetic particles produced in solar storms.
Researchers developed a system with on-chip sensors and a central processor to detect and respond to faults, achieving significant power reduction and improved performance. The self-healing capability was demonstrated in high-frequency integrated circuits, opening up possibilities for next-generation electronics.
Scientists have discovered a third Van Allen radiation belt that forms and dissipates in a matter of weeks, challenging our understanding of the environment around Earth. The discovery was made possible by twin NASA space probes carrying CU-Boulder instruments, which captured data on the belt's formation and behavior.
Using ocean WiFi hotspots, Stanford professor Barbara Block is tracking animal movements in real-time, enabling new insights into marine ecosystems and fisheries management. Her 'Wired Ocean' project aims to establish a global network of instruments to study the biosphere under unprecedented human impact.
A UT Arlington software engineer has developed a computer testing tool that significantly reduces the time and cost of determining whether a new program works. The Advanced Combinatorial Testing System (ACTS) uses combinatorial testing to test complex systems, such as healthcare information technology.
The gift enables researchers to study ways to improve electrical systems using software-defined networking technology, aiming to boost efficiency and security. The laboratory will be one of the first facilities to test emerging tech in managing power distribution.
Researchers at UT Dallas will explore alternative materials to silicon in integrated circuits and design a computer architecture for seamless communication between devices. The goal is to create faster electronics that use less power and build systems to avoid traffic accidents or lock down areas during emergencies.
A new software tool called ParseCNV detects copy number variation (CNV) associations with higher accuracy than existing software, enabling better identification of gene variants linked to genetic diseases. The algorithm automatically corrects for variations in DNA sequences, producing high-quality results.
DARPA's Adaptive Vehicle Make (AVM) program aims to reduce costs and lead times in developing new military vehicles by transforming the design and manufacturing process. Vanderbilt University's Institute for Software Integrated Systems is leading the development of engineering software, including META-X tool CyPhy.
A new method amplifies signals in graphene oxide-based electrochemical sensors, enabling applications in medicine, chemistry, and engineering. The findings could lead to rapid and sensitive screening of environmental pollutants.
The Polarimeter Definition Experiment (PODEX) tests new instruments designed to analyze aerosols and clouds, which can impact human health and climate. The experiment aims to develop a new class of polarimeters that can provide more detailed information about aerosols and clouds.
The Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) has released MostPixelsEver: Cluster Edition, an open source software tool that enables interactive multimedia visualizations on high resolution, tiled displays. This software aims to make visualization tools more accessible for humanities researchers.
Researchers at UCSB's Four Eyes Lab have developed a new approach to augmented reality (AR) applications that uses real-time computer vision and crowdsourced user data to create more stable and realistic overlays. This technology, termed 'anywhere' AR, enables users to interact with virtual objects in their physical environment.
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has awarded a $2.1 million grant to the University of California at Berkeley's Berkeley Center for Cosmological Physics to advance dark energy research through the BigBOSS project. BigBOSS aims to study dark energy with unprecedented precision using revolutionary technologies.
Curiosity rover analyzed its first solid sample of Mars using the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite. The analysis included separating molecules, identifying chemicals, and detecting volatiles and isotopes to search for signs of life.
The CSIRO sensor uses technology similar to mineral deposit detection, providing valuable geological information and avoiding unnecessary drilling. The device has the potential to help clear landmines and renew exploration efforts at abandoned sites.
A team of NASA engineers has created a low-cost, easy-to-apply sprayable paint that adsorbs gaseous molecules and prevents them from adhering to instrument components. The new technology overcomes limitations of existing techniques, providing a more effective solution for protecting sensitive satellite instruments and spacecraft.
Researchers develop novel sensor systems using RFID and sensors to monitor human activity, enabling timely assistance for older people living independently. The system adapts to individual routines and context-aware reasoning, producing alerts when necessary.